Summary: A new study asks whether a genetic variant tied to neurodegeneration in modern settings might provide benefits in different, infection-rich environments. Source: Arizona State University. Study finds cognitive decline may depend on the interaction between genes and environment — even parasites. We often talk about being in the right place at the wrong time. … Read more

People differ in how much confidence and hope they bring to the future. Some expect good outcomes; others anticipate setbacks. This enduring outlook is known as optimism and it shapes our thoughts, feelings, coping strategies, and health-related behaviors. The Life Orientation Test (LOT), and its revised version the LOT-R, are brief, well-validated measures designed to … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that artificial intelligence can detect early signs of Parkinson’s disease from images of the retinal blood vessels captured during a routine eye exam. Source: RSNA A routine eye photograph paired with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) could enable earlier detection of Parkinson’s disease, new research presented at the Radiological Society of North America … Read more

Summary: New research finds that people who experience larger drops in blood sugar several hours after eating feel hungrier and consume hundreds more calories each day than those with smaller drops. Source: King’s College London New evidence shows that steep drops in blood glucose a few hours after a meal are linked to stronger hunger … Read more

Throughout our lives we often face uncertainty about career direction, experience self-doubt, or ask questions about what comes next. Seeking advice from friends, family, or colleagues is common, but many people benefit from working with a professional career counselor to clarify goals, plan transitions, and find new opportunities. Professional career counselors offer targeted guidance on … Read more

Summary: Children who were exposed in utero to SSRIs or SNRIs showed a higher likelihood of language and cognitive delays by kindergarten compared with children whose mothers had prenatal depression but did not take these medications. Source: University of Manitoba Key finding: A population-based study from the University of Manitoba finds that children of mothers … Read more

Using positive youth development methods means putting young people’s needs first and helping them build the skills they need to become productive, resilient adults. Investing in young people can feel overwhelming, but positive youth development (PYD) relies on research-based practices that effectively foster youth skills and capacities. What do PYD programs look like in practice, … Read more

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified a specific population of brainstem neurons that are essential for stopping locomotion in mice. Published in the journal Cell, the study describes a descending pathway from the rostral medulla whose selective activation causes immediate arrest of movement, while its suppression makes stopping more difficult. The findings reveal a dedicated … Read more

Summary: Diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases is challenging because symptoms often overlap—a single patient can show signs of Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body pathology, and the effects of a small stroke simultaneously. Researchers have now developed an AI model that can detect multiple neurodegenerative conditions from a single blood sample by recognizing disease-specific protein patterns. By analyzing plasma … Read more

Summary: Harvard researchers have created a silicon chip that records intracellular signals from thousands of neurons in parallel, enabling the mapping and characterization of more than 70,000 synaptic connections from roughly 2,000 rat neurons. Using an array of 4,096 microhole electrodes, the team achieved high-sensitivity recordings that reveal not only which neurons connect, but also … Read more